Leopold Center publishes local food resource directory

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AMES, Iowa -- A growing number of organizations are supporting local food efforts in Iowa, and a new publication from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture can help you contact them.

The Leopold Center in cooperation with Iowa State University Extension has compiled a new directory that lists 64 organizations, programs, funders and consultants that offer various forms of assistance for Iowa producers, processors, food retailers and communities interested in local and regional food systems. The directory provides contact information, type of assistance offered, program examples, and audiences targeted by each group, program or organization.

“Iowa has a large, diverse network of organizations, programs, funders and consultants working in the local food arena,” said Leopold Center Associate Director Rich Pirog, who also leads the Center’s Marketing and Food Systems Initiative. “This will be the first comprehensive list of those organizations and programs that serve Iowa.”

The name of the directory is “Learning about Local: A Resource Guide to Iowa Organizations and Programs Supporting Local and Regional Food Systems.” It is available in a downloadable and printable format on the Leopold Center Web site here.

Pirog produced the directory with assistance from Ross Baxter, Drake Agricultural Law Center intern, and Andy Larson, a specialist with Iowa State University Extension’s Small Farm Sustainability program. The directory showcases a wide range of resources for Iowans interested in local food research, education, community development and technical and financial assistance across the state.

“Whether you are a farmer looking for educational tools, a county supervisor who wants to understand what local expertise could be tapped, or a teacher exploring the topic of local food with students, this directory is for you,” Pirog said. 

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The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/08-19-2009/leopold-center-publishes-local-food-resource-directory on 01/21/2013